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2013
Year in Review...  | | The Java Jews entertained attendees of the newly reprise of January Thaw. |
 | | DMARC's public officials tour in February provided an opportunity to see food pantries in person. |
 | | In March, the family of Richard O. Strid presented a bequest gift. (L to R) Executive Director Sarai Rice; Jerry and Leila Carlson; and DMARC President Susie Paloma. |
 | | In April, DMARC was recognized with the United Way of Central Iowa's 2012 Live United Advocate Award and the Iowa Medical Society's Washington Freeman Peck Award. |
 | | In May, DMARC's Beyond Beliefs Tours started up again and included four different faith traditions and their worship spaces in central Iowa. |
 | | In June, we added a larger truck to our fleet of MovetheFood vehicles for transporting food. |
 | | Through out the summer, DMARC offered presentations on hunger issues and education topics from experts at the Meals from the Market booth at the downtown Farmer's Market. |
wait, there are even more events in our timeline...
 | | In August, Wells Fargo donated food and personal care items and volunteers worked in the food pantry warehouse. |
 | | In September, UnityPoint Health Systems Diaper-a-Day drive donated 10,000 diapers to the Food Pantry Network. |
 | | On September 12, 2013, DMARC announced the purchase and renovation plans of a new location at 1435 Mulberry Street on the southwest side of downtown Des Moines. |
 | | In October, Principal Financial Group volunteers helped trim trees at the new Mulberry location. |
 | | In November, through the 9th Annual Harvest Concert, the We Got Male Chorus and friends raised over $12,000 for the Food Pantry Network! |
 | | Also in November, the Hy-Vee Food Store on George Mills Civic Parkway held their annual Thanksgiving food sack drive with a WHO Radio live broadcast. |
This is just a sampling of activities this year. Thanks to all for supporting DMARC!
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Des Moines Area Religious Council
3816 36th Street, Suite 202
Des Moines, IA 50310-4710
515-277-6969
www.dmreligious.org
www.movethefood.org
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Jackson is a shy 4-year-old in Miss Ali's preschool class who mostly plays by himself. One day Jackson seemed especially quiet, and Miss Ali asked what was wrong. After some coaxing, Jackson said, "My tummy hurts... I'm hungry."
"Didn't you eat your breakfast this morning?" she asked.
"It's not my turn," Jackson whispered.
Miss Ali was perplexed, "What do you mean, 'not your turn'?"
"It's not my turn to eat today," he said, his big brown eyes welling with tears.
Jackson's mom recently lost her job and Dad earns too little at his mechanic job to pay for rent, electricity, water, gasoline, food and all the other necessities for a family of six. Even with food stamps, Jackson's family takes turns not eating to make ends meet.
Each year, DMARC provides help for over 13,000 families when their household stability has been temporarily interrupted, as it was for Jackson and his family of six.
Today, you can provide a gift of hope and help support DMARC in this important work. Thanks to all who have supported us in 2013.
Blessings to you and your family during this holiday time!
- DMARC Staff
(Client name has been changed to insure confidentiality.)
Note: The DMARC Food Pantry warehouse and office will be closing at Noon on Dec. 24, and closed Wednesday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Also, we'll be closed New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2013. We are open all day Tuesday, Dec. 31.
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Avoid those Winter Blahs by attending DMARC's Winter Thaw 2014!
 The Des Moines Area Religious Council is delighted to announce the midwinter adult education and fellowship opportunity, Winter Thaw 2014 (formerly January Thaw)! This multi-faith event will be held January 28 & 30, and February 4 & 6, 2014, at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines and the theme is 'Eat, Pray, Love!' "We have a suggestion for beating the late winter blahs," says DMARC Executive Director, Rev. Sarai Schnucker Rice, DMARC. "Learn something new and meet more people, while appreciating other faith traditions. It can have a powerful impact in creating a peaceful, joyful community." Co-sponsors for this 2014 event are the Des Moines Area Religious Council, the Center for Social Ministry, the Jewish Federation, the Masjid An-Noor Muslim Community and the St. Joseph Education Center. For a course listing and speaker information, go to our website or click on course catalog to download. Or register online and submit the form to Kim Coulter. Cost for one course is $15; all four nights is $50 (courses are scheduled for 1 night only). Registration forms are available at: www.dmreligious.org/events#winterthaw. A promotional poster and bulletin insert are available to print and post. For more information, or to RSVP to this event email info@dmreligious.org or call 515-277-6969. Mail registrations and checks to the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) at 3816 36th St., Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50310. Please make checks payable to 'Winter Thaw'. Call DMARC at: 515-277-6969 for more information. |
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Holiday gifts are always welcome!
 Ways to Give
Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for the holidays or another special occasion of your friend or family member? DMARC has solved your gift-giving dilemma for that special someone:
- Pledge to our Capital Campaign - In late January, DMARC/MovetheFood offices and the Food Pantry Warehouse are moving to a newly renovated building at 1435 Mulberry Street in Des Moines. Pledging or donating funds to the Mulberry Street project would make a great gift for your business, faith leader or staff.
- Winter Thaw 2014 is fast approaching, give a gift registration to attend a course of choice for only $15. All four nights for $50 (see details above).
Financial gifts of help can also be directed for food, childcare assistance or payment of rent and utilities for a person in need. Here are some ideas:
$ 2.50 = food for 1 child for 1 day (3 meals)
$ 40.00 = a 4-day food supply for a family of four
$ 250.00 = 150 jars of peanut butter
$ 500.00 = 1,000 servings of fresh produce
$1,000.00 = 572 boxes of low sugar, whole grain cereal
To give the gift of help, go to www.dmreligious.org/donate or send your donation to DMARC, 3816 36th Street, Suite 202, Des Moines, IA 50310.
Ways to Volunteer
Can you help? We need volunteers too:
- Greet visitors and answer phones during the holidays and winter break; our busiest time of the year for donations or requests for food.
- Begin a family tradition of collecting food at a "Sack Saturday" event at a local store, and exchange the normal gift giving time for delivering collected food items to the DMARC warehouse together.
- Start early on New Year's resolutions by volunteering at one of the 13 neighborhood food pantries .
- Count, sort and pack food or drive, load and unload the MovetheFood truck (or your truck) for our warehouse.
You may volunteer one time or create a regular schedule. It's a fun way to make a difference! Visit our website for more information.
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Endow Iowa Offers Tax Benefits
to our Donors
 Make your year-end gift to DMARC go further! Consider providing an endowment gift that will ensure DMARC programs and services now and in the future, while also qualifying you for added tax benefits. Your gift made to the Des Moines Area Religious Council Endow Iowa Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines may qualify you to receive Endow Iowa Tax Credits. The Endow Iowa program allows donors to receive a 25% Iowa tax credit in addition to the usual federal charitable income tax deductions for certain charitable gifts. Credits are limited and are issued on a first-come/first-available basis. Learn more or request a form by contacting Kristine Frakes at: 515-277-6969 or kfrakes@dmreligious.org. |
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Who are we?
DMARC is the acronym for the Des Moines Area Religious Council, an interfaith organization with a core membership of about 140 congregations from four faith traditions. Recipient of the 2012 Live United Advocate Award from the United Way of Central Iowa, DMARC provides a common means of responding to basic human needs and a context for interfaith dialogue.
MovetheFood is a DMARC-led initiative to address the entire food system in Greater Des Moines, building on more than 36 years of food assistance work, catalyzing fresh generations, and engaging new constituencies to further support a vision for a day when everyone in Polk County has enough to eat.
The DMARC Food Pantry Network, a cornerstone of the MovetheFood initiative, consists of 13 separate pantry sites, a centralized warehouse, and numerous community partners. It is the largest food pantry system in Iowa. Pantry sites are located in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, and Urbandale, with nine sites in Des Moines. The DMARC Food Pantry network helps meet short-term food needs when families do not have enough to eat. Once each month, families can receive a free, four-day supply of nutritionally balanced food. In 2012, DMARC assisted more than 33,000 individuals in the greater Des Moines community; half of whom were children and youth.
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